The BFG - Tapa dura

First published 14 Oct 1982

There are few things more terrifying than being snatched out of your bed at night by a giant four times as tall as the tallest human, with a stride as long as a tennis court. This giant has been lurking on your street, blowing something from a glass jar into children's bedrooms. He sees you. Next moment you are in his grip and rushing at a fantastic speed through the darkness. When all this happens to little Sophie she starts to wonder how she will be cooked for breakfast. She has much to learn about the BFG - for he is no ordinary Crunching Giant. Shorter and far more 'jumbly' than his hideous neighbours, the BFG does have truly enormous ears, like truck wheels, and hearing dreams is not the least of his talents. He has a peculiar way with words and speaks of dreadful giant deeds such as 'gobblefunking'. Gobblefunking and worse is afoot round the world and Sophie things it is time that the Queen of England was told. Her Majesty may have to put up with a rather disgusting nightmare, but Sophie and the BFG have an ingenious plan to make us all safe in our beds at night. Roald Dahl, the most popular living author of books for children, has come up with a very special treat in The BFG. Quenting Blake has illustrated the hilarity to perfection. Dahl's world of giants is enough to strike terror in the boldest heart and what the RAF have to do with it, or dream-bottling, or 'snozzcumbers' (the filthiest vegetable in the world), children will discover for themselves in what must be Dahl's most startling and wonderful tale since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.